Arm support



D. F. SlMMONS Feb. 7, 195@ ARM SUPPORT Filed Nov. 25, 1947 A INVENTOR. 30A/ALD F SWW/0n;

Patented Feb. 7, 1950 lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARM SUPPORT Donald Simmons, Seattle, Wash.

Application November 25, 1947, Serial No. 787,913

claims. l

This invention relates to arm supports, and itv has reference more particularly to an arm sup- `port that is designed especially for use by embalmers; it being the principal object of the invention to provide a novel, practical and durable device for supporting the arms of a corpse, while on an operating table, in a position that is most practical and satisfactory for the embalming operation and which also will hold the arms in the natural and usually desired position until the body has set under the action of the embalming fluid or by reason of rigor mortis.

For a better understanding of my invention, it will here be explained that in the embalming of a human body, it is usual that the body be placed upon an operating table designed for this purpose, and that the arms be folded across the breast and supported there by the placing of blocks underneath the elbows at the side of the body. The embalming operation requires that certain blood vessels be opened up in the upper arms and neck to permit the blood to flow out under the forced injection of the embalming fluid. The use of blocks under the elbows, as the means for support of the arms, has not been entirely satisfactory due to the fact that they are usually in the way of the operator; they become stained and are hard to keep clean and they do not provide the stability of support or the adjustability that is a desirable feature.

In View of the above, and for various other reasons, it has been a further object of the invention to provide an arm supporting means that may be applied upon and directly across the body and which is so shaped that it will retain its position on the body and will support the arms against movement relative to the body and across the breast in the desired manner.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable support that can be easily and readily adjusted to adapt it to bodies of different size.

Still further objects reside in the details of construction and combination of parts and in their combination and mode of use as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the functional use of an arm support embodied by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side or edge View of the same, indicating its adjustability.

Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the support.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 5--5 in Fig. 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- Briefly described, the arm supporting means of this invention comprises a cross bar that is designed to be disposed transversely of and to rest upon the chest or breast of the body with which it is used, and which has its opposite end portions shaped to provide seats or rests upon which the arms may be placed for support. The bar is shaped to conform to the upwardly rounded form of the body and is adjustable in length to best adapt it to the size of the body.

The support is designated in its entirety by reference numeral l0, and as shown best in Fig. 2, it comprises paired, or what may be referred to as complemental opposite end portions Illa and lb which are disposed with inner end portions overlapped and adjustably joined. Each of the parts is made up from a iiat strip or strap `oi metal; the strip being approximately fifteen inches long, one and three-fourths inches wide and about three-sixteenths of an inch thick. Preferably stainless steel would be employed but 1 any other suitable material mightbe used with the same results, and the kind of material used is not critical. f

The part la, which is the top member as the device is applied in use, is formed along its inner end portion with a longitudinal row of spaced holes I2, and at its inner end has flanges |3-I3 at opposite sides that are bent downwardly and inwardly about the opposite side edges of the underlying member as a guide and holder for retaining the relationship of parts. At its inner end, the underlying member is formed with an upwardly turned stud I6 adapted to be located in any one of the holes i2 to establish and retain the adjustment that may be made for any particular body. l

The outer end portions of the paired members Illa and Ib are slightly upwardly turned and thus provide seats or rests as designated at l 8| 8 against which the arms are rested for support.

With the device so constructed, it is used as follows: Assuming the body is resting on the operating table, the bar or support l0 is placed upon and across the chest at a location just above the level of the elbows. The proper adjustment is made to extend or reduce the length of the bar to accommodate the body, by unseating the stud on the lower member from the hole and desired position. Also, the device is readily adapted to Abodies of diierent size, is easy to' apply. or remove and overcomes the manyobjections A to the use of blocks or other for'msof "supports t that are applied against thegta'ble'. The rdevice maybe easily cleaned and kept sterile. l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by 1. An arm support of thecliaraeterdescribed icornprisirig a fl'at'bar adaptedto be disposed 'upon 'andntransversely across `a body, and `having an 'upwardly arched Ihedial'portion "to conform to the bodyfs'hapeard havigits'opposite end-portions extended t'o opposite sidesof the body and 'upitarclly`curved a't their'ends toprovide upwardfly facing seats'for ythe re's'tiri'g`of the 'armsof the bdy i tfr'n.

-"2. 'An'a'rm support er 'tneeharacter uescribed "comprisinga fiat bar adapted tobeidisposed 'upon 'and transversely'a'cross a body, and having an "ipyvardly' arched `h`edia1 "portion to conform to "the body shapea'nd' 'havingits opposite end portions` extended vto 'ppositesides -of the body and upwardly crved 4at theren'ds to provide up- "wardly'fa'cingseats forthe resting of the arms fthefbody "therein, "said bar" comprising opposite endmerfribers, 'with inner jend "portions thereof "overlappedaidadjstably assembled together for changing Ithe effective: length' ofthe bar between the `ai'm' 's'eat portions.

, ls.' nn' erm 'support of the character described comprising aat 'bar' adaptedto be disposed upon 'and' transversely' across a body, ahd'having an fiipvvardly "arched:n'diar'portion to Vconform to 'the body shape'ad`havin'gits` -opposite end portions extended' to opposite sides 'of' the body and upwardly curved at their ends toprovide up- .bers and wherein. ,s

Wardly facing seats for the resting of the arms of the body therein, said bar comprising complemental opposite end members of iiat, strip material, with their inner end portions ilatly overlapped and slidably joined together for adjustment of distance between the arm seats, and means for retaining the members at their different positions g adjustment.`

`4. An arm"`support otjt'he character described Lcomprisi'ng"aliiatllzian adapted tov bedisposed for ,Support upon and transversely across a body, with "opposite end portions thereof extended beyond opposite sides of the body and providing arm rests; said bar being symmetrically upwardl L'arched"al'nng its medial portion to conform tA ,lbdy llapgmsad at bar comprising complemental oppositeend mem-bers, disposed with their inner end portions flatly overlapped one upon the other; the inner end portion of the 'overlying membenbeins. 'formedwthga longitudnal row. Qf spaced holes., and at its .inner 4@mi having .a slidinejconneetiqnnith ,the underlrrig portion for a; telescopic. adjustment tof, the ,length of the bar; said underlying pQrtiOn, beingiered at its. inner end with. a .preleting siudadapted `lvby endwise adjustment of .themenbsrs tebeos@- letively applied. tQny snel-9i 44.the holes ,in .the overlyingwmember tohold the Amembers in adiusted relationship-NW c '5. Alsupportsrsited .claim wirih fe Said arm rests mehr@ @reformed byupvdly curving the outer @ed .rf of.. berrisl- ....leonlietiee the inner. endef theyeriring. Sectie@ :with meun'dr- Vlying 'section nre idealer 9i flanges in the overlying member. Lthrill.,alie,beet $9 i0.. ex- Y tend beneath the side edges of the underlying member. n, A,

DONALD F. 'SIMA/loris. "izinifisf'ieb 'The "'folloiiri'ng'referens `are of rcord' in the 

